PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Heike Kagero (ranked 4467 p4p, 4000 weight class) and Ben Gilbert (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Kagero
vs
Gilbert

172 cm
18
148
0 - 0 - 0

155 cm
18
130
0 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Heike Kagero!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Ben Gilbert!
The judges for this bout are William Gold, Andrew Berry and Steven Brown.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gilbert doesn't manage to clinch there - Kagero circles away.
Kagero works Gilbert's body with a nice hook.
Kagero checks a leg kick.
Gilbert doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Kagero fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Gilbert fails to land the takedown.
Gilbert lands a nice hook to Kagero's body. Kagero takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.

Kagero closes the distance and clinches.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gilbert has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Gilbert tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Kagero lands with a left to the head.
Kagero cracks Gilbert with a nice body shot.
Kagero gets through Gilbert's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kagero goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Kagero creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Kagero lands a right hand.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Kagero.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Kagero.
A nice right hand lands inside from Kagero.
Gilbert has Kagero pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Kagero manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
A frustrated look appears on Gilbert's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Gilbert tries to pull guard but Kagero holds him up against the cage and eventually Gilbert drops back down to his feet.
Heike Kagero has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ben Gilbert.
Gilbert tries to work over Kagero's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

Gilbert ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Gilbert no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Kagero looking to pass the guard.
Gilbert pulls Kagero in to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kagero stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Gilbert swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Kagero throws a big right hand that misses.
Kagero has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Kagero looking to pass the guard.
Gilbert is trying to keep Kagero in close.
Gilbert working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Kagero.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Gilbert has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Kagero has passed into side control.
Kagero tries to move to full mount but Gilbert actually manages to regain half guard.
Kagero knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Gilbert on the ground.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kagero is trying to control the action in half guard but Gilbert is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Gilbert is trying to maintain the position but Kagero is very close to passing his half guard.
Gilbert is looking for a sweep. Kagero is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Kagero controlling the action here.
Kagero is looking for the mount but instead finds himself back in full guard.
Kagero will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Gilbert looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Kagero puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Gilbert trying to keep hold of his opponent's head but Kagero manages to pass to mount!
Kagero pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Kagero throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Gilbert really wants to buck Kagero off and get back to his feet.
Kagero can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Gilbert is looking to escape.
Kagero is stalling here but it's allowed Gilbert to get half guard.

Gilbert actively working from the bottom here.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Heike Kagero dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Kagero lands a lovely overhand right.
Kagero throws a hook but Gilbert avoids it easily.
Gilbert should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Kagero ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Kagero throws a body punch but Gilbert moves out of range.
Gilbert drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Kagero defends it well.
Kagero is looking to wear down Gilbert with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Kagero leaves Gilbert with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Kagero scores with a hook.
Gilbert shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Kagero but Kagero pushes him off and we're back to square one.
A little feinted left hand from Kagero on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A looping hook to the body misses from Kagero. Gilbert does a little dance to reset his feet.
Kagero lands with a cross.
Kagero just misses with a punch to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kagero circles away from the clinch attempt.
Kagero dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Gilbert closes the distance but Kagero moves to the side
and Kagero connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Gilbert throws a lazy head kick
and Kagero counters with a nice body shot.
Kagero darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Kagero paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.

Gilbert shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Gilbert showed some decent athleticism there.
Gilbert is breathing heavily.
Kagero keeping control of the position.
Kagero is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kagero is trying to maintain the position but Gilbert is very close to passing his half guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Kagero tries to get to full guard but Gilbert has control of the leg.
Kagero is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Gilbert can do to turn this around?
Gilbert is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Kagero tries to roll over but Gilbert keeps him under control.
Kagero trying to control here but he's found himself mounted! Oh no!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kagero slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kagero is trying to get back to full guard.

Gilbert wants to work for an arm triangle but Kagero is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Kagero tries to get to full guard but Gilbert has control of the leg.
Gilbert tries to pass to full mount but Kagero defends it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Gilbert seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Kagero does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Kagero is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Kagero looks like he's trying to stand up.
Gilbert passes into side control, despite Kagero's attempt to control the position.
Gilbert gets to mount! Kagero was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Kagero can't escape the position.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Heike Kagero dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Horrible takedown attempt by Gilbert or perhaps it was just good defense by Kagero, which made it look bad.
Gilbert scores with a leg kick.
Kagero is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Gilbert is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Kagero just misses with a punch to the body.
Nice uppercut lands for Kagero. That snapped Gilbert's head back.
Horrible takedown attempt by Gilbert or perhaps it was just good defense by Kagero, which made it look bad.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kagero throws a shot from downtown. Gilbert moves away and avoids it.
Gilbert has a takedown stuffed.
It looked like Kagero wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Heike Kagero has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ben Gilbert.
Kagero's corner calls for a 1-2. Kagero obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Ben Gilbert is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kagero looks to score with a jab to the body but Gilbert is just out of range.
Gilbert's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Kagero connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Gilbert scrambles back to his feet.
Kagero listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Gilbert misses with a takedown attempt
and Kagero counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Gilbert takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Kagero getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Gilbert tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Kagero paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Kagero clinches with his opponent.
Kagero lands a hook to the side of the head.
Gilbert goes for a takedown attempt but Kagero pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Gilbert keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Jab from Kagero.
Heike Kagero is winning the standup battle so far.
Kagero lands with a right hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Kagero gets caught flat footed, as Gilbert shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Kagero is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Kagero wants to control but Gilbert passes easily into half guard.
Kagero is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gilbert is trying to advance to mount but he's lost his balance and Kagero reverses the position - he's now on top in Gilbert's guard.
Kagero loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Gilbert keeping moving, preventing Kagero from controlling successfully.
Kagero pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Gilbert is keeping the position for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kagero postures up in Gilbert's guard and throws a big left but Gilbert blocks it.
Gilbert manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Kagero manages to get himself to full guard.

Kagero on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Kagero tries to get out of the position.
Kagero looking to hit a scissor sweep but Gilbert is one step ahead there.
Kagero keeping moving, preventing Gilbert from controlling successfully.
Heike Kagero is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Kagero is controlling Gilbert's posture.

And that's the end of the fight!
Heike Kagero showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Kagero, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge William Gold scores the fight 30:27
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 30:27
Judge Steven Brown scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Heike Kagero!
A relieved looking Heike Kagero thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.